Interface

Engineering
Publications is a
Co-Construct
initiative
supported by
Services Co-ordination
with Structural Beams
Guidance for a defect-free interface
By Sally Mitchell, Martin Heywood, and Glenn Hawkins
What is Co-Construct?
Co-Construct is a network of five leading construction research and information
organisations - Concrete Society, BSRIA, CIRIA, TRADA and SCI - who are
working together to produce a single point of communication for construction
professionals.
BSRIA covers all aspects of mechanical and electrical services in buildings,
including heating, air conditioning, and ventilation. Its services to industry include
information, collaborative research, consultancy, testing and certification. It also has
a worldwide market research and intelligence group, and offers hire calibration and
sale of instruments to the industry.
The Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA )
works with the construction industry to develop and implement best practice,
leading to better performance. CIRIA's independence and wide membership base
makes it uniquely placed to bring together all parties with an interest in improving
performance.
The Concrete Society is renowned for providing impartial information and
technical reports on concrete specification and best practice. The Society operates
an independent advisory service and offers networking through its regions and
clubs.
The Steel Construction Institute (SCI) is an independent, international, member-
based organisation with a mission to develop and promote the effective use of steel
in construction. SCI specialises in providing advanced internet-based solutions for
the construction industry.
TRADA provides timber information, research and consultancy for the
construction industry. The fully confidential range of expert services extends from
strategic planning and market analysis through to product development, technical
advice, training and publications.
For more information on Co-Construct visit www.construction.co.uk.
Services Co-ordination with Structural Beams
Copyright of all material in this publication rests with The Steel Construction
Institute and BSRIA. Guidance appearing in the yellow text boxes is copyright The
Steel Construction Institute, while all guidance in blue text boxes is copyright
BSRIA.
Authors: Martin Heywood is with The Steel Construction Institute. Sally Mitchell
and Glenn Hawkins are with BSRIA. Roderic Bunn from BSRIA and Chris Twinn
from Arup also contributed.
All photographs and illustrations in this publication were provided by BSRIA and
The Steel Construction Institute.
This publication was part-funded by the Department of Trade and Industry under
the Partners In Innovation (PII) collaborative research programme. The views
expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the DTI. Final editorial
control and publishing responsibility of this publication rested with BSRIA.
©BSRIA/SCI IEP2/2003 December 2003 ISBN 0 86022 634 4 Printed by The Chameleon Press Ltd
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical
including photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of
the publisher.
An Interface Engineering Publication 2
What are Interface Engineering Publications?
Interface Engineering Publications (IEP) are a series of guides that aim to
bridge the gaps in technical knowledge at the interfaces between construction
packages. The publications involve reformating existing professional
knowledge, developed independently by Co-Construct members, into a single
source of guidance.
The objective of IEPs are to reduce failures on site, to create greater
understanding of shared processes by clients, designers and contractors, and to
improve construction quality and the in-use performance of building systems.
Services Co-ordination with Structural Beams was jointly researched,
edited and produced by BSRIA and The Steel Construction Institute in order
to provide comprehensive guidance in a single publication. All the information
has been drawn from current research and existing publications, and cross-
referenced with the latest regulatory requirements.
For more information on Co-Construct visit www.construction.co.uk.
Co-Construct
c/o BSRIA, Old Bracknell Lane West, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7AH, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1344 426511
www.construction.co.uk
1 SERVICES CO-ORDINATION WITH STRUCTURAL BEAMS
The office boom of the early 1980s led to many innovations: facade
engineering, myriad forms of air conditioning, and many new designs of
steel structures. Trendsetting developers discovered that the choice of
structural beam had a fundamental effect on the efficiency and speed of
construction. By running services through holes in structural beams – and
designing those beams with services distribution in mind – developers
were able to reduce storey heights, increase lettable area, and save on the
cost of the external envelope.
However, real reductions in capital cost only accrue from properly co-
ordinated design, where the structure and services are designed in
harmony, and where the policy of integration is followed through to
installation. For less well co-ordinated projects, the theoretical savings can
be more than wiped out by lack of detailed co-ordination. The resulting
problems can only be solved through costly improvisation by site
contractors.
This guide, the second in a series called Interface Engineering
Publications, aims to provide guidance on the best ways to engineer the
interface between structural design and services distribution. BSRIA and
The Steel Construction Institute (SCI) have pooled their technical
knowledge to provide structural and services engineers with consistent,
interlocking advice.
The publication largely contains material repackaged from existing
BSRIA and SCI guidance. Details of the original publications, relevant
European and British Standards and other references for further reading
are provided at the end of this publication.
Much of the guidance in this publication concentrates on the technical
aspects of a well co-ordinated design. It argues that structural engineers
must invite their services colleagues to take part in option analysis, to
design the beam openings to cater for the favoured services systems, and
to help resolve the inevitable conflicts that occur in ceiling voids. The risk
from not doing so will be increased time or cost overruns during
installation, largely caused by the need to adapt ductwork and pipework,
and to provide additional fittings required to make services go together.
The key message is that structural design must not be carried out in
isolation from the design of the building services. All parties to the design
process should make it clear to the client – and the client’s representatives
– that savings will only be achieved if services are installed so they will
perform properly, and in a manner that enables them to be maintained.
Roderic Bunn, BSRIA
Martin Heywood, The Steel Construction Institute
December 2003
Introduction